Comments on: Chopsticks (Ohashi) Etiquette http://www.wandco.com/13 A small personal design firm Fri, 02 Jul 2010 05:51:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ready, Get Set, Go! | The Eugene Groove http://www.wandco.com/13/comment-page-1#comment-1302 Ready, Get Set, Go! | The Eugene Groove Fri, 02 Jul 2010 05:51:50 +0000 http://www.wandco.com/?p=13#comment-1302 [...] matsuri (festivals, ??) for students to celebrate Japanese culture. Here kids race to master ohashi [...] [...] matsuri (festivals, ??) for students to celebrate Japanese culture. Here kids race to master ohashi [...]

]]> By: NoriMori http://www.wandco.com/13/comment-page-1#comment-1292 NoriMori Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:38:19 +0000 http://www.wandco.com/?p=13#comment-1292 I love the accompanying illustrations, they're really cute! If I ever make a "How to Use O-hashi" illustrated tutorial, I hope I can get/make illustrations as cute as yours! I love the accompanying illustrations, they’re really cute! If I ever make a “How to Use O-hashi” illustrated tutorial, I hope I can get/make illustrations as cute as yours!

]]> By: Dayz http://www.wandco.com/13/comment-page-1#comment-1265 Dayz Mon, 11 May 2009 13:01:37 +0000 http://www.wandco.com/?p=13#comment-1265 Hehee Thanks for the cool tips ! Hehee Thanks for the cool tips !

]]> By: modmadmike http://www.wandco.com/13/comment-page-1#comment-1242 modmadmike Sun, 22 Jun 2008 02:33:51 +0000 http://www.wandco.com/?p=13#comment-1242 I picked out a pair of reusable ohashi at an anime convention (animeNEXT) so I could practice for when I go to japan on july 13th because i don't want to look like a dumb american. Thanks for the guide! I picked out a pair of reusable ohashi at an anime convention (animeNEXT) so I could practice for when I go to japan on july 13th because i don’t want to look like a dumb american. Thanks for the guide!

]]> By: Antinous http://www.wandco.com/13/comment-page-1#comment-1214 Antinous Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:44:44 +0000 http://www.wandco.com/?p=13#comment-1214 These rules are not really that esoteric if you transpose them to western silverware. Would you leave your fork jabbed into your steak at a 90 degree angle? Stab a tomato with your knife and suck it into your mouth? Stick your spit-covered fork into the communal mashed potatoes? We have rules, too. They've just become so automatic that we don't notice them. When you want the waiter to take your empty plate, you lay your utensils on the plate on a diagonal with the business ends to the upper left. Voila! "May I take that for you, sir?" Japanese table etiquette is actually simpler than western because they don't have such a vast array of eating utensils. Now if I could just figure out how to use the bandage scissors that they give you at Korean barbecue restaurants.... These rules are not really that esoteric if you transpose them to western silverware. Would you leave your fork jabbed into your steak at a 90 degree angle? Stab a tomato with your knife and suck it into your mouth? Stick your spit-covered fork into the communal mashed potatoes? We have rules, too. They’ve just become so automatic that we don’t notice them. When you want the waiter to take your empty plate, you lay your utensils on the plate on a diagonal with the business ends to the upper left. Voila! “May I take that for you, sir?” Japanese table etiquette is actually simpler than western because they don’t have such a vast array of eating utensils. Now if I could just figure out how to use the bandage scissors that they give you at Korean barbecue restaurants….

]]> By: Richard Davies http://www.wandco.com/13/comment-page-1#comment-1202 Richard Davies Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:55:38 +0000 http://www.wandco.com/?p=13#comment-1202 Sucking or licking any food debris off your chopsticks is supposed to be bad form, as much as licking the gravy off your plate! Sucking or licking any food debris off your chopsticks is supposed to be bad form, as much as licking the gravy off your plate!

]]> By: Tim http://www.wandco.com/13/comment-page-1#comment-1182 Tim Tue, 06 Mar 2007 19:03:35 +0000 http://www.wandco.com/?p=13#comment-1182 It's worth pointing out that the japanese word for chopsticks is simply "hashi". The "O" is an honorary prefix, appropriate in some situations and not in others. I'm not sure if you should use it in the context of an english sentence("Can I please have some hashi?" vs. "Can I please have some o-hashi?"). Might want to check this out with a fluent Japanese speaker. I would say that in english-speaking countries, it is probably best to just say "chop sticks", as many japanese restaurants are run/staffed by chinese, korean, thai, or vietnamese people. It’s worth pointing out that the japanese word for chopsticks is simply “hashi”. The “O” is an honorary prefix, appropriate in some situations and not in others. I’m not sure if you should use it in the context of an english sentence(“Can I please have some hashi?” vs. “Can I please have some o-hashi?”). Might want to check this out with a fluent Japanese speaker.

I would say that in english-speaking countries, it is probably best to just say “chop sticks”, as many japanese restaurants are run/staffed by chinese, korean, thai, or vietnamese people.

]]> By: tina http://www.wandco.com/13/comment-page-1#comment-1181 tina Sun, 18 Feb 2007 15:57:25 +0000 http://www.wandco.com/?p=13#comment-1181 i am asian and my family eats with chopsticks everyday; i can tell you that some of these practices are so archaic that if you bring them up you might get giggled at. furthermore, i don't wish to call them ohashi because the term is strictly japanese and the utensils are not. i think its more important to just learn to use the dang things with deftness and ease. knowing about funeral practices helps one avoid social awkwardness when dining with grandmothers or shintoists but beyond that, i think it's most important to just enjoy your food and show the chef/host your appreciation. imho, making a point to be super correct in anything but the most formal, traditionalized eating situations (i.e. tea ceremony) will only make people consider you forced and pompous. be natural, have fun. i am asian and my family eats with chopsticks everyday; i can tell you that some of these practices are so archaic that if you bring them up you might get giggled at. furthermore, i don’t wish to call them ohashi because the term is strictly japanese and the utensils are not.

i think its more important to just learn to use the dang things with deftness and ease. knowing about funeral practices helps one avoid social awkwardness when dining with grandmothers or shintoists but beyond that, i think it’s most important to just enjoy your food and show the chef/host your appreciation. imho, making a point to be super correct in anything but the most formal, traditionalized eating situations (i.e. tea ceremony) will only make people consider you forced and pompous. be natural, have fun.

]]> By: bingobangoboy http://www.wandco.com/13/comment-page-1#comment-1178 bingobangoboy Mon, 05 Feb 2007 15:07:26 +0000 http://www.wandco.com/?p=13#comment-1178 sweeping/shoveling is normal in China, but it's just NOT done in Japan. But it's okay to lift the bowl almost to your mouth (lifting to about chest level is a bit more dignified). If you do use the shovel method in Japan, I don't think it's going to actually offend anyone; you'll just look like a slob. As some others have noticed, #5, while certainly recognized as polite, and I think it's good sense, it's just not very common; actually I've never seen a Japanese person perform it (although there might be some settings where it is practiced). Try it with a group of Japanese and you'll probably be immediately made aware of how eccentric it's considered. I'm pretty sure skewing food (#2) is still considered pretty rude by most people. sawing food (with a chopstick in each hand) is also considered rude, but is occasionally done when necessary. #1 is the most important rule, although some people misunderstand it. It's OK to leave your chopsticks in the rice bowl in the natural way (with the tapered ends in the rice, and the other ends supported by the rim of the bowl); it's just not OK for them to be propped up in the rice vertically, as shown in the picture. I always see #3 mentioned, so I assume it's pretty rude, but I can't imagine anyone doing it anyway... As for noodles, well, I guess it takes some practice. The traditional method is just to grab into the bowl with your chopsticks, bring whatever you catch in the ends of the chopsticks to your mouth, and slurp up the hanging ends. If you're not good at slurping, you can just bite and let the ends fall back into the bowl. The broth is usually drunk straight from the bowl (unless you're given a spoon, in which case you use that). sweeping/shoveling is normal in China, but it’s just NOT done in Japan. But it’s okay to lift the bowl almost to your mouth (lifting to about chest level is a bit more dignified). If you do use the shovel method in Japan, I don’t think it’s going to actually offend anyone; you’ll just look like a slob.
As some others have noticed, #5, while certainly recognized as polite, and I think it’s good sense, it’s just not very common; actually I’ve never seen a Japanese person perform it (although there might be some settings where it is practiced). Try it with a group of Japanese and you’ll probably be immediately made aware of how eccentric it’s considered.
I’m pretty sure skewing food (#2) is still considered pretty rude by most people.
sawing food (with a chopstick in each hand) is also considered rude, but is occasionally done when necessary.
#1 is the most important rule, although some people misunderstand it. It’s OK to leave your chopsticks in the rice bowl in the natural way (with the tapered ends in the rice, and the other ends supported by the rim of the bowl); it’s just not OK for them to be propped up in the rice vertically, as shown in the picture.
I always see #3 mentioned, so I assume it’s pretty rude, but I can’t imagine anyone doing it anyway…
As for noodles, well, I guess it takes some practice. The traditional method is just to grab into the bowl with your chopsticks, bring whatever you catch in the ends of the chopsticks to your mouth, and slurp up the hanging ends. If you’re not good at slurping, you can just bite and let the ends fall back into the bowl. The broth is usually drunk straight from the bowl (unless you’re given a spoon, in which case you use that).

]]> By: Angelo http://www.wandco.com/13/comment-page-1#comment-1130 Angelo Fri, 12 Jan 2007 08:31:51 +0000 http://www.wandco.com/?p=13#comment-1130 sweeping/shoveling rice is acceptable to my knowledge. When you are done a meal place the chopsticks on the stand (ohashi-oki). If there isnt one place them horizontally pointing to the left ontop of the bowl. (I'm not certain on this but i've seen it enough times that it can't be offensive). As for the soup .... can't help you there, carefully i suppose. Oh and for the other people who read this slurping your soup is more than acceptable in japan, it shows how much you like it. sweeping/shoveling rice is acceptable to my knowledge.

When you are done a meal place the chopsticks on the stand (ohashi-oki). If there isnt one place them horizontally pointing to the left ontop of the bowl. (I’m not certain on this but i’ve seen it enough times that it can’t be offensive).

As for the soup …. can’t help you there, carefully i suppose. Oh and for the other people who read this slurping your soup is more than acceptable in japan, it shows how much you like it.

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